New Perspectives on “Wenzhang Siyou:” AFocus on Li Qiao and Cui Rong’s PracticalProse

Author: Jing-Yi Qu(Division of Chinese, Nanyang Technological University)

Vol.&No.：Vol. 57, No. 2
Date：September 2012
Pages：29-58
DOI：10.3966/207451922012095702002

Abstract：

Li Qiao（李嶠）, Cui Rong（崔融）, Su Weidao（蘇味道）, and Du Shenyan（杜審言） are called “Wenzhang Siyou”(文章四友) or the Four Literary Friends in historical Chinese literature. However, little research on their achievements in prose writing has been done. This study focuses on Li Qiao and Cui Rong’s practical prose because Su Weidao’s and Du Shenyan’s prose was not reserved. In Li and Cui’s prose, beautiful and parallel styles worsen over time. Their ode declarations, merit epitaphs, and mourning appointments indicated their appointments as palace writers, and become continuation of the Six Dynasties. There were no political meanings or true feelings in their writing. Many auspicious ideas, which were used to praise Emperor Wu（武后）, were in their prose. However, their memorial discussions containing various implications were their “bright color.” Comparatively, Cui’s literary achievements were more significant than Li’s for several reasons. First, Cui’s prose is richly embellished with allusions and quotations. Second, Cui is good at writing parallelisms in the Lianzhu（連珠）style. Third, his tendency for three-word sentences made his syntax more changeable. We further discuss “wenzhang”（文章）in Wenzhang Siyou, which includes poetry and prose, but mainly examine the latter. The ranking of wenzhang siyou is consistent with the achievements of the four writers.

Keywords：“Wenzhang siyou,” Li Qiao, Practical Prose in the Tang Dynasty, Cui Rong

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